‘Iron’ Soldiers, IA conduct mass casualty training

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Francisco Solis of El Paso, Texas, medical NCO, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, overlooks as a 10th Iraqi Army Transportation Headquarters medic stabilizes a casualty for evacuation during a training exercise at Camp Ur Aug. 16. (Photo by: 2nd Lt. Jon Morgan)  

CAMP UR, IRAQ

08.16.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Story by: 2nd Lt. Jon Morgan

CAMP UR, Iraq – An ambulance races down the street, leaving a dust cloud in its wake. Coming to an abrupt halt, doors fly open, and a medic jumps out. Fellow Iraqi Army soldiers are wounded and in need of medical care at Iraqi Army Camp Ur Aug. 16.

Patients are stabilized for transportation and placed into the ambulance. The back doors are closed and the ambulance furiously races back to the camp’s aid station. A 10th IA Transportation Headquarters treatment team advised by a 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division medical noncommissioned officer is standing by waiting to receive casualties.

Luckily, all of this was only a drill. It was an effort to evaluate what the 10th IA learned after three months of Iraqi Army led training, advised by the 64th BSB.

During the mass casualty exercise, Brig. Gen. Ali Jawad Kazem, 10th IA Transportation HQ commander, observed the work of the medics at the aid station.

“I am confident that my medics can handle multiple casualties and save many lives,” he said after the exercise.

Sgt. Francisco Solis of El Paso, Texas, a medical NCO with 64th BSB, has spent three months advising Iraqi instructors on how to plan for mass casualty operations, how to set up casualty collection points, triage, trauma treatment areas, and how to evacuate casualties to a higher level of care.

Partnered with two Iraqi medics, Solis taught four basic first aid and medical classes similar to a combat lifesaver program. The classes illustrated mass casualty situations are not only about giving medical treatment but on security, logistical and personnel support, and leaders’ command and control to bring order to chaos.

Warrant Officer Marquest O’Neil of Fort Gibson, Miss., logistical training and advisory team chief, has been advising Ali over the last few months on the importance of the operational side, establishing casualty collection points and ensuring the evacuation plans were established for Camp Ur.

“Brig. Gen. Ali is constantly focused on training and improving his organization. All of his officers and [soldiers] understand his priorities and take training events very seriously, which causes them to continuously improve as a unit,” said Capt. Tiffany Bilderback from Milwaukee, 64th BSB, logistical training and advisory officer.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2010
• Date Posted: 09.15.2010 02:29
• Story ID: 56286
• Location: CAMP UR, IQ